Capped drinking containers



July 27, 1965 D. M. WEITZNER CAPPED DRINKING CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1965 mmvron fiorozbea lZ Neiizner ATTURNE 5.

July 27, 1965 D. M. WEITZNER 3,

CAPPED DRINKING CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,197,057 CAPPED DRINKHN G CGNTAlNERS Dorothea M. Weitzner, 8 E. 62nd St, New York 21, N.Y. Filed Sept. 3, 1953, Ser. No. 396,105 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-100) This invention relates generally to containers for liquid drinks or for liquid or granular foods and more particularly to a new and useful improvement in a closure cap therefor, which cap is adapted to be partly removed for pouring or completely removed to permit the container to serve as a drinking vessel.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a container of this type with a closure cap having a pull tab for complete removal of the cap from the container to permit the container to serve as a drinking vessel, and having a portion removable for pouring the con-tents of the container into a drinking vessel, if desired, the removable portion also serving as a tool or utensil for use in consuming the contents of the container. The tool or utensil may be a spoon, fork or straw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container with a plastic closure cap having a removable tool or utensil forming part thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container with a plastic closure cap having a removable tool or utensil forming part thereof, the cap having a score line along which the cap may be turned to release the tool or utensil.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container with a closure cap thereon embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of another modified closure cap according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows the container of FIG. 1 in use after the cap is removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of a container with removable medallion closures.

FIG. 6 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of one of the medallions of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another modified form of a container closure cap according to the invention, shown partly removed in dash lines.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another beverage container with another modified form of closure cap thereon, shown partly removed in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 8 shown in use after the cap is removed.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another modified form of closure cap according to the invention.

FiG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on line 13--13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a further modified form of closure cap mounted on a beverage container, and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cap and container of FIG. 14 with utensil separated and in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a beverage container in the form of a drinking glass or cup containing beverage B. On the beaded rim 3,197,057 Patented July 27, 1965 "ice 22 of this container is a closure cap 25. The cap has a circular top 23 and peripheral skirt 24 whichis turned inwardly to engage around the beaded rim 22. The cap is made of frangible, plastic material. Integrally molded with the circular top is a spoon 26 having a concave bowl 26 and handle 26' outlined by a score line 28 which is continued obliquely at line portion 28' down across skirt 24. The skirt has an integral depending tab 30 located at the end of the score line. This tab can be manually grasped to tear along the score line portion 28' and release the cap from the rim of the container. Then the tearing can be continued along score line 28 to release the spoon 26 for use as an eating utensil.

FIG. 3 shows another modified form of cap 25 in which score line 28 on top 23 outlines a fork 32 with handle 31 and with a zigzag portion 32 defining tines. The fork can be used as an eating utensil after the cap is removed from .a container by tearing first along score line portion 28'. This cap has a tab Sit on skirt 24 to facilitate tearing the cap off a container. The handle 31 of the fork is shown partially free in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows container 20 used as a drinking glass after removal of cap 25 or 25 FIGS. 8-11 show a modified form of closure cap 25 with fiat surface 23*, in which skirt 24 engaged on rim 22' has transverse score line portions 28" and 28 at tearing tab 30'. A tube 35 is integrally molded with the cap and is joined to the bottom edge of the skirt 24 by a circumferential score line 28 which is continuous with score line portions 25" and 28. A short score line portion 28 extends in a loop upwardly over the skirt 24 to define a tab 36. This tab supports the tube so that its open end is adapted to be elevated as shown in FIG. 10 to be used as a straw. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the tube 35 is shown inserted into container 20* and being used as a drinking straw. The.

cap 25 is torn free from the container and is also shown in FIG. 10.

A modified form of closure cap 25 is shown on the rim 22 of container 20 in FIGS. 12 and 13. The tube 35' has an inner wall 39 forming part of the skirt of the cap 25. A score line or groove 28 extends circumferentially around the periphery of circular top 23 and depending tab 30 is integral with tube 35'. A transverse score line portion 28 extends across the outer side 40 of the tube at tab 3%. The tube 35' can be torn off at score line 28 to provide a drinking straw. The cap will be released from the top of the container when score line portion 23 is torn.

In FIGS. 14 and 15 is shown a modified form of a closure cap 25 in which the cap may remain on the container 2tl after tube 35" is torn off. The tube 35" is joined to the lower edge of skirt 24* by a circumferential score line 28 as in cap 25 of FIG. 8. Tab 30" depends from the tube at transverse score line portion 28. Score line portion 28 extends upwardly transversely of skirt 24 and then radially of circular top 23 The score line defines a loop 23 which forms the rim of an opening 29 in the top 23 after the tube is torn off from the cap. As shown in FIG. 15, the tube 35 when torn off can be inserted through opening 29 to serve as a drinking straw while the remainder of the cap remains as a support for the straw and cover for the container 20. The tap 29' left when the tube 35" is torn off may serve as a handle for the straw.

in FIG. 7 is shown a modified form of closure cap 25 provided with a circular top 23* and depending skirt 24 engaged on the rim of container 20 This cap has a transverse score line portion 28 which extends across the skirt at depending tab 20 The score line continues at 28 part way across the circular top 23 Two spaced parallel slits 42, 43 are formed in tab 30 and a strap 44 is inserted and engaged in the slits. The strap has a 9' a d double pronged end 45 which engages at the tab to facilitate tearing the cap along the score lines when the strap is pulled upwardly to the dotted line position. A circular tab 46 at the other end of the strap prevents the strap from falling out of slits 42, 43. V

In FIG. is shown a food container 50 having a plurality of circular disks 52' integrally formed in one or more walls. These disks have various animalorother figures 54 molded therein. The disks are outlined by score lines 55. The disks serve .as closures for the container. Any one or more disks can be .torn oif at the score lines 55 to provide one or more openings in the container. The disks 52 with their animal figures, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may serve as medallions, playing pieces for various games, party favors or forother purposes.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to thepreci'se constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A closure cap for a food or beverage container having a rim, said skirt comprising a body having a fiat circular top, an annular skirt depending from the periphery of said top for engaging on the rim of the container, a tearing tab integral with said skirt, said skirt having a transverse score line at said tab for releasing the skirt from the rim of the container, a tube integral with said skirt and separable from theskirt by another score line extending circumferentially of the skirt, said tab being located at one end of said tube, whereby the cap is released from the container when the skirt is torn along said transverse score line, and the tube is released from the skirt when the skirt is torn along said other score line to serve as a drinking straw.

2. A closure cap for a food or beverage container having a rim, said skirt comprising a body havinga flat circular top, a tubular skirt joined to the periphery of said top by a circumferential score line, a transverse score line in the tubular skirt continuous with the circumferential score line, and a tab depending from said tubular skirt at the transverse score line to facilitate tearing the tubular 4, skirt and top along the transverse and circumferential score lines to free the tubular skirt and top from the container, and to free the tubular skirt from the top to define a drinking straw.

3. A'closure cap for a food or beverage container having a rim, said skirt comprising a body having a flat circular top, an annular skirt depending from the periphery of said top for engaging on the rim of the container, a tearing tab integral with said skirt, said skirt having a transverse score line at said tab for releasing the skirt from the rim of the container, a tube integral with said skirt and separable from the skirt by another score line extending circumferentially of the skirt, said tab being located at one end of said tube, whereby the cap is released from the container when the skirt is torn along said transverse score line, and the tube is released from the skirt when the skirt is torn along said other score line to serve as a drinking straw, said skirt and top having a further score line continuous with said other score line to define another tab for supporting one endof the tube in an elevated position a when the tube is released from the skirt.

'4. A closure cap for a drinking vessel comprising a plastic circular body, an integral skirt depending from the rim of the body, a tube around the bottom edge of the skirt and integral therewith, a score line between the skirt and tube, a tab on the bottom edge of the tube at one end thereof, said tube having a tab at the other end, a score line between the body and skirt and said last-named tab to permit severance of said tab from the body and skirt, a transverse score line between the ends of the tube and permitting separation of said ends whereby the tube may be removed from the body and serve as a drinking straw.

References Cited byv the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,865 11/26 Butler.

1,657,325 1/28 Suttle 229-1.5 2,432,132 12/47 Allen 2151 2,731,751 1/56 Green 229 FOREIGN PATENTS 541,225 11/41 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

' GEORGE o. RALSTON, Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE CAP FOR A FOOD OR BEVERAGE CONTAINER HAVING A RIM, SAID SKIRT COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A FLAT CIRCULAR TOP, AN ANNULAR SKIRT DEPENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TOP FOR ENGAGING ON THE RIM OF THE CONTAINER, A TEARING TAB INTEGRAL WITH SAID SKIRT, SAID SKIRT HAVING A TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE AT SAID TAB FOR RELEASING THE SKIRT FROM THE RIM OF THE CONTAINER, A TUBE INTEGRAL WITH SAID SKIRT AND SEPARABLE FROM THE SKIRT BY ANOTHER SCORE LINE EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE SKIRT, SAID TAB BEING LOCATED AT ONE END OF SAID TUBE, WHEREBY THE CAP IS RELEASED FROM THE CONTAINER WHEN THE SKIRT IS TORN ALONG SAID TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE, AND THE TUBE IS RELEASED FROM THE SKIRT WHEN THE SKIRT IS TORN ALONG SAID OTHER SCORE LINE TO SERVE AS A DRINKING STRAW. 